Brits have been urged not to eat Sainsbury’s olives for fear that they may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria.
The supermarket is recalling 120g packs of Inspired to Cook by Sainsbury’s Pitted Black Olives.
Food safety chiefs said Listeria monocytogenes ‘was detected in the product’.
Consuming the bacteria can the infection cause listeriosis, which is possible lead to life-threatening complications, such as: sepsis or meningitis.
The to remind refers to the 120 g packs with a use-by date of September 6, September 7 and September 10.
Officials from the Food Standards Agency have issued a ‘do not eat’ warning to customers.
Sainsbury’s has told shoppers to instead return the olives to their nearest store where they can purchase the olives is eligible for a full refund.
“No other products are affected by this issue,” the supermarket added. “Sainsbury’s would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
Sainsbury’s is recalling 120g packs of Inspired to Cook by Sainsbury’s Pitted Black Olives
The NHS says listeriosis is usually mild, with flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and nausea, but warns it can make some people ‘seriously ill’.
It is most likely life-threatening in people with weakened immune systems.
This includes the elderly, pregnant women, newborn babies and people with conditions such as diabetes or cancer and people receiving treatments including chemotherapy.
When the infection spreads to the bloodstream and brain, it can cause sepsis or meningitis.
The bacteria is usually killed during pasteurization, meaning it is often associated with raw dairy products and ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats, smoked fish and prepackaged sandwiches.
Many foods can harbor the organism, and contaminated products may not look or smell spoiled.
The NHS says the bacteria can also contaminate cheeses such as brie and camembert, pâté and pre-cut fruit.
However, they emphasize: ‘These foods do not always contain listeria.
“If you’ve eaten them recently, you don’t need to do anything unless you develop symptoms of the infection.”
Although less common, listeriosis can also be contracted from someone else who is infected.
This is usually passed on when consuming food they have touched, especially if their hands are not clean. Close contact with farm animals can also cause spread.
Figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that 179 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 deaths recorded among non-pregnancy-related cases.
